Pages

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Embracing the Spotlight (Giveaway Alert!)

Today, the very sweet and fun Candee Fick, whom I had the absolute pleasure of meeting at the ACFW Conference in Nashville last month, is stepping into my role today to bring you a precious word. And a giveaway! So read on, then make sure you enter the giveaway for this beautiful book (I'm almost finished reading it, and I don't want to be!)

What is
it about being the center of attention that both attracts and repels us?

While
it hurts to be ignored, intense scrutiny isn’t very fun either. We want people
to notice us and pay attention to what we do, but hate it when people stare
like we’re a specimen under the microscope. We want to be admired but don’t
want our competition to get jealous and put a target on our back.

The
main character in my just-released book, Dance
Over Me, faces this dilemma. The story opens with a nerve-wracking audition
while a snickering diva watches from the peanut gallery. Danielle, a.k.a. Dani,
loves to dance and sing and longs to be a part of the cast at this dinner
theater. She wants to bring a smile to the faces of the audience and inspire
young girls to pursue their dreams. But Dani does not want to be in the spotlight, because the last time she got a
starring role it cost her a family. So while it should be obvious (for the sake
of the rest of the book) that she gets hired, what will happen if an understudy
role ever turns into the real thing or a jealous cast mate starts grinding Dani
through the rumor mill? Can she learn to embrace the spotlight?

As a
writer, I’ve faced a similar love-hate relationship with the spotlight. In
2014, I was a Double Finalist in the ACFW Genesis contest. On the one hand, I
was thrilled with the confirmation that I could write and so appreciative of
how that information opened conversational doors with editors and agents. On
the other hand, I still remember sitting at the conference awards Gala both
hopeful and petrified that my name would be called. While I wanted to win for
the credibility factor, I would have to walk up there onto the stage in front
of hundreds of people and deliver a speech, knowing the entire event was being
live-streamed across the world.

I won.
I did not trip going up the stairs. I spoke. I survived. But that was not the
end. I got my first book contract and suddenly I was thrust into a different
spotlight called marketing. As an author, I need the publicity to get my name
and books in front of new potential readers so I can boost sales, make my
publisher happy, and get new contracts for even more books. But I daily battle
my insecurities, alternating between fear that others might reject me and an
insidious pride that whispers I am more important than I ever dreamed.

Since
I’ve chosen the spotlight of being an author, how can I best embrace the
necessary attention? By walking confidently in my God-given abilities while
remembering both the source of those talents and their purpose. I don’t write
stories for my own glory, but rather to encourage and entertain others while
pointing them toward the true hope found in God. By keeping the focus on the
reader’s experience and God’s blessings, I start to care less about my own
reputation and more about being obedient to His plan.

Or as
the book’s hero Alex tells Dani, “It would be an offense to God not to use the
gifts He gave you.” Even if that means embracing the spotlight.

What
about you? What spotlight are you avoiding or embracing? Why do insecurities
choose to surface the closer we get to our dreams? Chime in (in the comments below) and be entered to
win a free copy (winner’s choice of print or e-book) of Dance Over Me.

***

Candee Fick is the wife of a high school football coach and the mother of three children, including a daughter with a rare genetic syndrome. When not busy with her day job or writing, she can be found cheering on the home team at football, basketball, baseball, and Special Olympics games. In what little free time remains, she enjoys exploring the great Colorado outdoors, indulging in dark chocolate, and savoring happily-ever-after endings through a good book.

Danielle Lefontaine, a fledgling actress raised to the lullaby of Broadway, searches for her long-lost brother and her place on the stage, but a jealous cast member and numerous fruitless leads threaten to drop the curtain on her dreams and shine a spotlight on her longing for a place to belong. Meanwhile, Alex Sheridan is living his dream except for someone to share it with. When Dani dances into his life, he hopes he’s found the missing piece to his heart but fears the bright lights of a bigger stage could steal her away.

Will the rhythm of dancing feet usher in their deepest desires or leave them stranded in the wings?

I like you find the daily battle not easy. I want readers to select my book over other ones so that God's glory can be honoured through my writing. However that puts me in the spot light and I am not very confident in that arena.

The belief that God wants me to write, to encourage others and point the way to a relationship with my Father in Heaven, has to overcome my human reactions. With God all is possible, maybe scary for me, but not impossible for God.

God's blessing on your book and writing, Margaret (Kazmierczak).

Author of 'How to Make Victoria Sponge' published by Celebrate Lit Publishing 19 Sept 2016.

Hi, Candee! I keep running into this title and am beginning to think I am SUPPOSED to read it, especially after reading your post here. I would say I'm embracing the spotlight of being an author in His service. I'm a firstborn and have never been shy, still that of course doesn't mean I have no insecurities because I have plenty. I've suffered much rejection in my lifetime...but don't find that egregious as both Yahshuah and His Father...Almighty God...also suffered rejection, and it hurts! Hugs and blessings! I look forward to partying with you on October 18 at our Baseball Bash! :)